THE MOST EPIC CHRISTMAS CARDS.

As an Orlando photographer, one of the reasons I love Christmas is the joy of receiving beautiful, printed photo Christmas cards in the mail—it’s a tradition that stands out during the holiday season. Sure, many people send Christmas greetings by email (I’m guilty of that sometimes, too, with how busy the holidays get!), but let’s be real—nothing beats the charm of printed photo Christmas cards. And when it comes to creative family Christmas cards, there are regular ones, there are photo cards, and then there are epic photo Christmas cards. I may be biased, but the cards I’m about to show you are something special because I helped create them! What makes these cards stand out is the unique theme, the creativity, and the excitement of waiting each year to see what this family will come up with. Spoiler alert—the family I’m going to introduce you to takes the crown every year with their epic rock album-inspired holiday cards!

2019's CHRISTMAS CARD.

Back in 2019, as an Orlando photographer specializing in creative family portraits, I was approached by one of my neighbors at the school bus stop with an epic proposal. She and her husband had been brainstorming ideas for their Christmas pictures and wanted something far from the traditional holiday card. Knowing my work, they asked if I could help them recreate rock album covers for their Christmas card. I immediately fell in love with the concept!

That year’s challenge was to recreate Mötley Crüe’s Girls, Girls, Girls album cover, originally shot by photographer Barry Levine. With no big warehouse or motorcycles for the photoshoot, I decided to rely on my Photoshop skills and use Adobe Stock images to build the background. This creative approach allowed me to have everything ready before the shoot—when my neighbors arrived at my home for their photo session, I knew exactly how to pose them and layer the images for a flawless, epic photo Christmas card.

I wasn’t prepared for what I saw when they showed up! Everyone was dressed to the nines, complete with wigs and makeup, totally channeling the rock star vibe. From that moment, I knew this would become my favorite annual creative collaboration.

2020's CHRISTMAS CARD.

The first Christmas card was a huge success, and the very next year, my neighbor returned with a cheeky smile, saying it was time for another round of our creative family Christmas card collaboration! This time, the challenge was to recreate U2’s iconic Joshua Tree album cover, originally photographed by Anton Corbijn.

Since I haven’t had the chance to visit Death Valley or Coachella Valley, I once again relied on Adobe Stock to craft the perfect background. As an Orlando photographer, what amazes me most about this family is their dedication. Every year, by the time they arrive for their creative photo Christmas card session, everyone—including the kids—has already nailed their poses and expressions. And don’t even get me started on their outfits—they always come fully prepared, which takes these creative family photos to the next level!

2021's CHRISTMAS CARD.

The year the family chose to recreate Robert Palmer’s iconic Addicted to Love video for their Christmas card took things to a whole new level! The original music video, released in 1986, became a cultural sensation due to Palmer’s smooth performance alongside a group of identical, sharply dressed women, creating an unforgettable visual. The video is known for its high-fashion, minimalist style and has been parodied many times since its release. It was praised for its edgy and sophisticated aesthetic, earning Palmer the reputation of a stylish, dapper rockstar

For this Christmas card, the family flipped the script by having the dad take center stage—dressed in heels and a tight dress, no less—while the little girl happily shed her “boy character” from the previous years. It was hilarious watching dad trying to balance in those heels! Their dedication to recreating this music video, complete with wigs and makeup, showed once again how far they were willing to go for their epic Christmas cards. Every year, their creativity seems to top the last, making their holiday cards truly unforgettable and perfect for their out-of-the-box family tradition!

By offering unique, creative family Christmas cards like these, I help families bring their most imaginative ideas to life. As an Orlando photographer, I thrive on capturing these moments in fun, personalized ways that stand out from typical holiday greetings.

2022's CHRISTMAS CARD.

Another year, another unforgettable creative family Christmas card! This time, my neighbors chose Van Halen’s self-titled debut album as the theme. Released in 1978, this album revolutionized rock music with its groundbreaking sound, particularly the track “Eruption,” which introduced a whole new level of guitar wizardry. As an Orlando photographer, I was beyond excited to bring this epic concept to life.

By now, I knew the drill—each year I eagerly anticipated how this creative family would show up. This time, they came fully prepared, complete with a drum set, a guitar meticulously customized with black tape to resemble Eddie Van Halen’s signature instrument, and of course, their boundless energy! Their dedication made the photoshoot a blast from start to finish.

For this creative photo Christmas card, I didn’t need Adobe Stock for the background. Instead, I used a black seamless paper and played with light gels to recreate the vibrant, energetic feel of the album cover. For the first time, I even got to experiment with dragging the shutter to capture some truly dynamic shots, which added to the rock ‘n’ roll vibe.

2023's CHRISTMAS CARD.

The rebellious teenager in me was overjoyed when my neighbors came to me with their theme for this year’s Christmas card: Smashing Pumpkins’ iconic debut album Gish. Released in 1991, this album was a groundbreaking blend of alternative rock, grunge, and psychedelic influences, marking the beginning of the Smashing Pumpkins’ meteoric rise in the 90s. The cover itself, a mysterious and slightly surreal image, presented a fun challenge for me to recreate with this family. Capturing the moody tones and trippy atmosphere of Gish was no easy feat, but the results were well worth it. The rich colors and intricate composition made this card a standout addition to their ever-growing album cover collection.

The Gish cover, with its intricate design, perfectly complements the band’s early exploration of psychedelia and grunge. The Smashing Pumpkins were known for their raw energy and dynamic performances, with songs like “Siva” and “Rhinoceros” highlighting their musical versatility. For our shoot, I worked to mimic the unique color palette and surreal elements of the cover while adding my own creative twist to ensure it fit within the family’s evolving series of epic Christmas cards.

As an Orlando photographer specializing in creative photo sessions, I absolutely love collaborating with clients who want to push the boundaries of traditional family portraits. Whether it’s turning rock album covers into holiday cards or bringing your wildest ideas to life, I’m thrilled to offer personalized, creative concepts for your family Christmas cards. My goal is to help you create a holiday tradition that your friends and family eagerly anticipate each year—one where your card stands out in a sea of ordinary greetings, making a lasting impression every holiday season